Producer Curly Flat is a fan favourite above all else, but boutique, independent and exceptional are other words that could describe it. First established by Jenifer Kolkka and Phillip Moraghan in 1989, they purchased the property and began planting their vineyard and building their winery and brand. In 2017, Jenifer became the sole owner of Curly Flat, and she has continued to build upon the already stellar reputation of the label and expand their range. Her mission is to always put quality at the forefront of everything they do and to nurture the land and the community around them. In recent years, Matt Harrop joined the team as head winemaker, and he has made some slight tweaks to their operation that have resulted in a more elevated, polished style. Harrop has reduced the yields to develop more complexity in the fruit. The extraction has been gentler in the winery, and they've invested in some larger oak vessels. While staying true to the Curly Flat style, they have been able to emphasise the purity of fruit. Tasting Note This is a harmonious pairing of bright red fruit, like cherry and raspberry coupled with earthy undergrowth, spice, and a lovely herbal tinge. A small 6% of the fruit was fermented as whole bunches. The fruit was matured in oak for 16 months, 17% of which was new oak. "I like the stringiness of this, the tension, the fruit, the length. It's real pinot. It feels as though it's desperate to rush forward but it holds itself back until it gets to the finish, where it runs. It has a minerally aspect, a sour ripeness, a thread of woodsmoke, a garni of herbs. It will cellar beautifully. It's cool, ripe, savoury, seamless and long." - Campbell Mattinson 95 Points
